23 November 2013 2:53 PM

Forget breadmakers. Giving a loved one a lesson in baking is a brilliant Christmas gift idea.

I was slightly nervous before I tried a one-day course on creating the perfect loaf – run by Tom Herbert, one of TV’s Fabulous Baker Brothers – because my kitchen skills are rather limited. When I was eight, I could just about create cakes from a Mary Baker packet mix – and all you had to do was add water.

Based in the lovely old South Gloucestershire town of Chipping Sodbury, Hobbs House Bakery is foodie heaven. Unsurprisingly, there were some serious participants on the course – the group included 2012 Great British Bake Off contestant Cathryn Dresser – so I had reason to feel overawed. But Tom soon put us at ease as he explained the great mysteries of yeast and gluten, and under his watchful I was soon turning out loaves of sumptuous sourdough and ravishing rye.

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28 February 2013 3:08 PM

It's a classic scenario - you go away on holiday, become seduced by the cuisine and try to recreate what you've eaten at home. And it just never tastes the same.

But one holiday company is hoping its new mini break will have the opposite effect as it launches the Valencia Paella Project.

This three-night trip whisks food fans to the Spanish home of paella - Valencia - to teach them the art of creating Spain's famous dish.

Guests will start - naturally - by chowing down on seafood paella by the coast, along with a tasty tapas tour.

A cookery class will then teach holidaymakers the secrets of paella, with a visit to the local food market accompanied by a chef to choose the ingredients. Lunch will see students taste the fruits of their labour.

And just to make sure you've really got the taste for it, day three will include an excursion to the Valencian countryside, where there will be a visit to a winery and the chance to sample the paella typical of inland communities.

Trip provider The Spanish Thyme Traveller says: "If you come on the Paella Project you'll not only learn how to cook paella but you'll also learn its history, its culture and the reasoning behind its ingredients."

Holiday booking dates run from May 10. Trip costs 650 euros (£560) per person, based on double occupancy. Flights are not included. Visit www.thespanishthymetraveller.com.

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19 April 2012 4:58 PM

History has tried hard to consign the Welsh language to the linguistic scrapheap.

But the launch of Dinefwr Literature Festival packs another punch in the ancient tongue's fightback.

The first-ever bilingual Welsh festival will be held over three days from June 29 to July 1 at the National Trust’s rather lovely Dinefwr Park and Castle, in the heart of the Carmarthenshire countryside.

And the area has literary form - the 12th-century castle was once the seat of Welsh ruler Lord Rhys.

The Norman agitator and warrior-prince sponsored court poets and arranged a festival of music and poetry in 1176, which has become known as the first National Eisteddfod, an annual cultural festival attracting up to 160,000 visitors.

Award-winning writers and poets laureate (think Andrew Motion) will bring the written word to life at Dinefwr - or 'great fort' - accompanied by a wealth of musicians (enter Super Furry Animals’ front man Gruff Rhys and Emmy the Great), comedians, fringe and visual arts acts.

There will be a camping field and local food to feast on, workshops and 'unusual performances', plus a number of children's events.

Visitors will also be able to enjoy the picturesque scenery in which Dinefwr Castle sits on a guided tour with the Wildlife Trust.

Lleucu Siencyn, Chief Executive of Literature Wales, said: 'Wales has an unbroken tradition of celebrating poetry and song, from the National Eisteddfod to the Hay Festival: we like to shout out loud about literature.

'This year, [the] festival will bring the ancient surroundings alive through a sparkling blend of comedy, music and the best literature we have on offer.'

Gillian Clarke, National Poet of Wales, added: 'I’ve always thought Carmarthenshire one of the loveliest counties in Wales.

'Named for Myrddin, Merlin the wizard, (the very thought turns a pen to a wand), and the Roman "Caer", it is rich in famous gardens, historic houses and castles, and one of the greatest of these is the castle and estate of Dinefwr.'

Both weekend and day tickets are available - adult weekend passes cost £65, with a discount for National Trust and Literature Wales members. Adult day tickets start at £25, children under five go free, and weekend and day tickets for children aged 6-16 are priced £10 and £5 respectively.

Camping tickets cost an additional £20 per tent for a maximum of four people sharing. Booking fees apply to all tickets.

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20 January 2012 1:35 PM

Bottoms up: Plenty of bubbles in this bath but not the right sort (file photo)

While most couples enjoy a glass of champagne on Valentine’s Day, a few rich individuals can now indulge in the bubbly stuff on a somewhat larger scale - by bathing in it.

London's Cadogan hotel has launched a new 'Champagne bath menu' in time for the most romantic day of the year in a bid to attract those in search of 'celebrity style'.

While legend has it that Marilyn Monroe bathed in 350 bottles of the alcoholic drink - that’s quantity, not actual bottles – The Cadogan has exercised a little more restraint.

It takes 120 bottles to fill one of the hotel baths with a choice of four different Champagnes - ranging from the very reasonably priced Louis de Custine Brut, at £4,000 a tub, to the subtle sophistication afforded by a £25,000 bath of Dom Perignon Vintage.

For those concerned about the correct temperature to serve it, the knowledgeable folk at intowine.com recommend a chilly 7C for the smell and taste to be fully appreciated.

And if that's not enough, a butler will be on hand with a bottle of complimentary champagne to quaff as you wash - or perhaps if you’re feeling really glamorous, brush your teeth in afterwards.

20 October 2011 4:58 PM

A new website which aims to boost tourism while protecting the natural charms of the South East of England has launched - and with it a nostalgia for the British countryside in autumn.

‘Our Land’ (www.our-land.co.uk) is a resource set up to 'celebrate' the nine protected landscapes of the region while highlighting 'sustainable tourism businesses that have a passion and commitment to their local landscapes.'

Hosted by www.responsibletravel.com, Our Land says more than a third of the South East is officially classified as Protected Landscape, made up of two National Parks and seven Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB).

Maple leaves carpet the floor of a wood in the Surrey Hills. Credit: John Miller

These include the Chilterns, Cotswolds, High Weald, Isle of Wight, Kent Downs, New Forest, North Wessex Downs, South Downs and the Surrey Hills.

Community, its creators say, lies at the heart of the site, which promotes 'hand-picked things to do and places to stay in some of the most beautiful landscapes on our doorstep.'

Through the website, visitors can book a break, find inspiration for itineraries tailored to the seasons and 'read about the sights, sounds and smells that make the different landscapes so distinct.'

There are ideas for the autumn half term and advice from locals on what activities to take part in, where to locate seasonal menus and revel in the natural world at this time of year.

Credit: Surrey Hills AONB

Social media elements enable visitors to put questions to a panel of historians, conservationists and experts in outdoor activities.

The website captures our countryside at its best - red, rosy apples peek from clusters of crisp green leaves, while website visitors are treated to sweeping vistas alive with the blazing earthy colours of autumn.

TV presenter Kate Humble, who was there to launch the initiative, said: 'In the UK we have some of the world’s most beautiful landscapes on our doorstep.

'Not only are these wonderful places to enjoy Britain’s nature at its best, they are also packed full of interesting stories of thousands of years of human life. There is a powerful, resurgent interest in re-discovering natural and cultural Britain.'

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30 November 2010 10:23 AM

Who knew Heston's candied orange pud would tumble from the shelves at Waitrose so quickly?

There's now little hope of biting into the special Valencian oranges on Christmas Day as just a 'few thousand' are left to be stuffed into the fad puds. The usual crunch of a sixpence will seem distinctly underwhelming this year.

You could buy one on ebay, currently going for around £100, but surely it's better to save your money and book a table at the superchef's new restaurant instead?

In London's swish Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park hotel, the restaurant will open on Monday 31st January 2011. And reservations open tomorrow!